Swallow Falls

Key Elements

  • Waterfalls
  • Sable Clubtail
  • Blackburnian Warbler
  • Cliff and Rock Outcrops
  • Old Growth Eastern Hemlock Hardwood Forest

The Basics

  • Facilities
  • Entry Fee
  • Marked Trails
  • Visitor Center
  • Information Boards

Watch Out For

  • Mosquitoes
  • Rushing Water
  • Rugged Terrain
  • Slippery, Wet Rocks
 

Contact

Swallow Falls State Park
c/o Herrington Manor State Park
222 Herrington Lane
Oakland, MD  21550
Phone: 301-387-6938

 Maryland's Natural Areas

​Swallow Falls, Garrett County

Printable Version of Swallow Falls Natural Area

Scenic view of Swallow falls, photo by Kathi FachetFew forests in Maryland can be characterized as old growth, meaning they survived the widespread cutting of trees that occurred in the eastern United States from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Nestled within Swallow Falls State Park and hugging the Youghiogheny River is Maryland's oldest grove of eastern hemlock and white pine, some of which are reported to be at least 360 years old. A hike along the Canyon Loop trail leads visitors through these sentinels to the spectacular Muddy Creek Falls, a 53-foot cascade waterfall and the highest in Maryland.

In the summer of 1921, three men who changed our nation camped here beside Muddy Creek Falls. Calling themselves "the Vagabonds", Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone found peace and solace in this natural sanctuary. Down the trail ahead, visitors will be treated to two other falls: the Lower and Upper Swallow Falls. Swallow Falls was named for the rock pillar that once housed hundreds of nesting cliff swallows. It is not clear as to why these social birds no longer nest there, but it is thought the swallows relocated their colony to an area with less human disturbance.

 

(Left) Blackburnian warbler. Photo by: Wikimedia Commons. (Right) An Appalachian tiger swallowtail sips minerals from a puddle.  

Flying Jewels

In May, hikers may be treated to the thin, high-pitched "zip-zip" or "teetsa" song of a male blackburnian warbler staking out his territory. After the young have fledged, blackburnians will gather with foraging flocks of chickadees, nuthatches, and kinglets in the mature evergreen forests. Even though cliff swallows may no longer be nesting at Swallow Falls Natural Area, visitors may spy another "swallow": the recently discovered Appalachian tiger swallowtail. This butterfly is found only in eastern mountainous regions and is much larger and paler than the eastern tiger swallowtail. An abundance of dragonflies patrol the Youghiogheny River, in their constant search for mosquitoes, flies and other small insect prey. Dragonfly seekers will likely see black-shouldered spinylegs and perhaps the rare sable clubtail (Gomphus rogersi).

(left) Sable clubtail. - Terry Hibbits; (right) A female black-shouldered spinyleg feeds on a moth after an active hunt. - Richa
 

The Rarest of Rare Forests

 A stand of the old growth eastern hemlock forest at Swallow Falls where the Vagabonds once camped. - Wikimedia Commons

Signage for Old Growh Forest, photo by Kathi FacetForests are generally considered "old growth" if they have not been logged or significantly disturbed by people since the 1700s. Of the 2.7 million acres of forest in Maryland, 2,000 acres are officially designated as old growth and 1.8% of that is hemlock forest. This park shelters the same precious 37 acres of hemlocks and white pines so loved as a camping spot by the Vagabonds. Not many old growth forests remain in the eastern U.S. and fewer still are as easily accessible to hikers. Though these trees escaped the axe, they now face a tiny but deadly threat from the hemlock woolly adelgid, an Asian insect that literally sucks the life out of the tree by feeding on young twig tissue and its stored starches vital for growth. The department's efforts to save the 300 year old hemlocks began in May 2011 using predatory beetles similar to ladybugs, and soil and tree insecticide injections. Only time will tell if future vagabonds will find peace under the same treasured trees that once sheltered history.

Click here for a Print Version of this map.

MD DNR Map of Swallow Falls Natural Area
 

Swallow Falls Natural Area

Directions

From Frederick: Take I-70 west to I-68 at Hancock. Continue on I-68 about 65 miles to Exit 14. Follow US 219 (Garrett Highway) south about 19 miles to Mayhew Inn Road (a few miles beyond Deep Creek Lake). Turn right and follow Mayhew Inn Road about 4.5 miles to its end at Oakland Sang Run Road. Turn left at the stop sign and continue 0.3 mile to the first right-hand turn. Bear right onto Swallow Falls Road and proceed 1.2 miles to Maple Glade Road. Turn right to the entrance for Swallow Falls State Park.

Directions Button Links to Google Maps
Aerial View Button Links to Google Earth 

Driving directions and aerial views open with Google Maps. For the aerial view button, if an aerial view does not open by default, click on the Satellite icon in the upper right corner and Google Maps will switch to an aerial view of the Natural Area.

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​Acknowledgements:

Scenic View of Swallow Falls Natural Area. Photo by: Kathi Fachet.

Photo Collage:

(Left) Blackburnian warbler. Photo by: Wikimedia Commons.

(Right) An Appalachian tiger swallowtail sips minerals from a puddle. Photo by: Ken Thomas.

Dragonfly Collage:

(Left): Sable clubtail. - Terry Hibbits

(Right): A female black-shouldered spinyleg feeds on a moth after an active hunt. Photo by: Richard Orr.

A stand of the old growth eastern hemlock forest at Swallow Falls where the Vagabonds once camped. Photo by: Wikimedia Commons.

A sign at Swallow Falls informs visitors about the significance of old growth trees. Photo by: Kathi Fachet.